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mitty14u2

(1,015 posts)
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 09:17 AM Jan 2014

FBI Burglars Come Forward, 43 Years Later

Source: TPM


Five anti-Vietnam War activists who stole a trove of documents exposing the FBI's surveillance of war protesters and political groups have come forward, the New York Times reported Tuesday -- nearly 43 years after committing the crime.


The successful scheme was spearheaded by William C. Davidon, a physics professor at Haverford College and antiwar protester. He was joined by Keith Forsyth, John and Bonnie Raines, and Bob Williamson, and three other participants whose names have not been revealed. Their unmasking comes ahead of the release of a book detailing the burglary, written by Betty Medsger, a former Washington Post reporter who was one of the first journalists to receive the groups' documents.

The documents, which the burglars took out of a poorly secured FBI satellite office in Media, Pa. in suitcases, revealed the extent to which then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover presided over the surveillance of antiwar activists and dissident student groups. One document in particular disclosed a spying program, Cointelpro (Counterintelligence Program), which the Times described as "an expansive campaign to spy on civil rights leaders, political organizers and suspected Communists, and had tried to sow distrust among protest groups."



Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/1970s_fbi_burglars_come_forward

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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FBI Burglars Come Forward, 43 Years Later (Original Post) mitty14u2 Jan 2014 OP
And the spying program continues to this day. blackspade Jan 2014 #1
They learned their lesson, first pass a secret law and secret legal opinions making spying legal Coyotl Jan 2014 #14
Excellent article and video. iemitsu Jan 2014 #2
And back then the "republicans" called these people traitors MyNameGoesHere Jan 2014 #3
changed? colbertforpresident Jan 2014 #5
Actually a lot has changed. Before they just spied on "activists." yellowcanine Jan 2014 #7
Yes, things have changed. Kelvin Mace Jan 2014 #11
for the win frylock Jan 2014 #13
Well I would never disparage fine Democrats on this board MyNameGoesHere Jan 2014 #16
I've been here since 2003 Kelvin Mace Jan 2014 #17
K&R Gemini Cat Jan 2014 #4
Heard this on NPR this morning. Amazing story. The activists pulled off the perfect crime. yellowcanine Jan 2014 #6
They should be locked up immediately. progressoid Jan 2014 #8
Yeah, they are thieves. They should have been in jail this whole time. They should've surrendered deurbano Jan 2014 #9
K&R Solly Mack Jan 2014 #10
They should come back and face the music AngryAmish Jan 2014 #12
Deuling banjos? blackspade Jan 2014 #15
K&R + more coverage alp227 Jan 2014 #18
I hope there's better info. The COINTEL Program documents have been on the gov't websites now for okaawhatever Jan 2014 #19

blackspade

(10,056 posts)
1. And the spying program continues to this day.
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 09:48 AM
Jan 2014

They get busted every decade or so and just switch it to a new agency.

 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
14. They learned their lesson, first pass a secret law and secret legal opinions making spying legal
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 01:06 PM
Jan 2014

and make sure it is soooo secret the courts can't interfere with the unconstitutional provisions.

 

MyNameGoesHere

(7,638 posts)
3. And back then the "republicans" called these people traitors
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 10:12 AM
Jan 2014

and probably wanted them to "face the music". I am glad times have changed.

 

MyNameGoesHere

(7,638 posts)
16. Well I would never disparage fine Democrats on this board
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 02:17 PM
Jan 2014

only "republicans". Wouldn't want to go to alert purgatory you know.

 

Kelvin Mace

(17,469 posts)
17. I've been here since 2003
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 07:31 PM
Jan 2014

And been up to my eyeballs in a flame war or hundred. I don't believe I have ever had a post pulled. If they start now, it would be time for me to move on.

yellowcanine

(35,701 posts)
6. Heard this on NPR this morning. Amazing story. The activists pulled off the perfect crime.
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 10:49 AM
Jan 2014

They got the files and disseminated them without leaving any trace. And then they kept quiet and had no contact with each other until long after the statute of limitations had run out. J. Edgar Hoover was punked big time.

deurbano

(2,895 posts)
9. Yeah, they are thieves. They should have been in jail this whole time. They should've surrendered
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 11:48 AM
Jan 2014

back then. (J/K)

okaawhatever

(9,462 posts)
19. I hope there's better info. The COINTEL Program documents have been on the gov't websites now for
Wed Jan 8, 2014, 02:44 PM
Jan 2014

years. I've read most of the memos and reports sent in by various offices involved. I'll read the stories and maybe the book, but I'd like to know more about other programs. I know Hoover was quite the character and I can only imagine what he pulled in his day.

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